Conveyer.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. B. SGOVELL.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR, 19. 1904.

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J. B. SOOVELL.

GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED APR.19. 1904.

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J. B. SCOVBLL.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19. 1904.

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J. B. SGOVELL.

GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED APR.19. 1904.

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UNITED STA S rn rENir oFFIor.

JOSIAH B. SUOVELL, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO NAOMI E. SCOVELL, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

CQNVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19. 1904. Serial No. 203,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH B. SoovELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable conveyors adapted to be used in storehouses and the like'for unloading cars or vehicles and for conveying material to the different portions of the storehouse, the object of the invention being to provide an a paratus for the purpose which will be col apsible, so as to occupy a minimum space when folded, and which may be transported from place to place upon suitable carrying Wheels or ro lers connected therewith, at the same time carrying a suitable motor for actuating the conveyers while in use, the whole com rising a compact and light apparatus for the purpose intended, which is readily adaptable to various purposes in connection with large shipping and storehouse enterprises.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved conveyer assembled as for use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fi 3 is an elevational view of a slightly-modlfied form of conveyer, comprising a plurality of conveyerframes angularly dis osed. Fi 4 is a transverse section on the inc 4 4 of ig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a method of connecting the conveyer-cables. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of another modification of my improved conveying apparatus. Figs. 7 and 8 are details, respectively, of a truck especially designed for use in connection with the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of my conveyer adapted for use as a log-loader, and Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 9.

Like figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents supporting frames or horses, upon which are mounted the conveyer-frame sections 2, 3, and 4, said frame-sections being ivotally connected, and 3 and 4 adapted to he folded over onto section 2, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, though it will be obvious that the actuating-chain running from the motor, hereinafter described, connected to the frame-section 4, may be detached to permit being folded into position. Supported from the central frame-section 2 by means of brackets 5 are carrying-wheels 6 upon the shaft or axle 7, upon which wheels 6 the apparatus may be transported from place to place, as may be desired, said'axle 7 being dropped centrally, or, in other words, made yoke-shaped for inclosin motor 7*. The motor 7 is preferably 0 the electric type and rests upon the axles 7, and is thus carried by the brackets 5, which carry axle 7, and are carried by the framework 2 when the conveyer is in operation. The relation of the parts are of course reversed when the wheels 6 are employed as carrying-wheels, so that 'during transportation of the framework 2 the axle 7 and motor 7 are supported directly by the wheels 6, the brackets 5, carried by axle 7, and the framework 2, supported on brackets 5. The shaft of motor 7 carries a sprocket-wheel 8, fixed thereto, said sprocketwheel engaging a chain 9, extending thence to the sprocket 10 at the forward end of frame-section 2, said sprocket 10 being carried upon the shaft 11, supported below the forward end of said section 2 and driving the shaft 11, u on which are carried grooved rollers 12, a out which rollers and extending from thence to the rollers 13 and 13 at the opposite ends of frame-sections 3 and 4 are cables 14, which also pass over suitable supporting-rollers 15, held in the forward end of said frame-section 3, said cables forming a substantially continuous conveyer from the forward end of section 4 to the rear end of section 3 and is actuated b the sprocket: chain 9 and wheel 10 on the s aft 11 and also by the chains 16, passing over the sprockets 17 on the shaft 18, and over the sprocket 19 .on said shaft 11. Suitable supporting-rollers 20 are suspended in brackets 21 from the central frame-section 2, so as to prevent undue sagging of said conveyer 14, and thereby preventing injury to the motor 7 and the other arts suspended below the platform. It will be obvious that the particular arrangement of the motor and location thereof, as well as the location and number of the driving-chains running therefrom and actuated osed with relation to each other, which ames may be arranged, if desired, so that material may be carried down on the conveyer-frame 3 to and across 2, from which it may be carried to the conveyer-frame 4*.

, and form thence to any suitable place of do posit below, or, if desired, a slight shift of the relative positions of the conveyers is permissible and an opposite line of travel established, first, over 4*, then across 2 and up 3, if desired. This is permissible by reason of the fact that the cable conveyers of this apparatus are synchronized in their movement by means of flexible cable-actuating means connected outside of the sections herein illustrated, said means com rising the shiftable supporting-bar 25, whicii may be suspended from any convenient means in the ceiling of the warehouse or from posts or other supports outside thereof, said bar 25 supporting pulleys 26, over which pass cables 28 for the purpose of actuatin the driving-rollers 27 upon the shaft 29 of t e section 3*. The shaft 33 is driven by the cable 30, extending from the shaft 1 1 in the forward end section 2 and rising thence to the grooved pulley 31, from which it extends to and over the driving-pulley 32 on the shaft 33 in section 4. In this instance, as in the structure previously described, the sections 2', 3, and 4 are adapted to be supported upon movable horses 1., which are shown only under the section 2 for convenience of illustration. Thus it will be seen that by reason of the flexibility of the the brackets 5, carrying the section of framework2 and it will be observed that this particular arrangement of parts makes possible the ready transportation of the section of framework supported by the carrying-wheels 6, the weight 0 the motor 7 a being taken up by the axle of said wheels, and the weight of the section of framework being balanced upon said axle, so that the conveyer may be moved about the warehouse after the manner of a truck, the supply-wires to the motor 7 being readily connected-and disconnected when= ever necessary for the purpose of transportation of the conveyer. The flexibility of the means for transmitting power from the motor7 to the laterally-disposed conveyersections 3 and 4 makes possible the adjustment of said sections to various inclinations.

and angles with respect to the section 2, the said sections 3 and 4 being capable of assuming a horizontal position or any desired degree of incline and also capable of assuming positions not only at right angles but at prac tically any desired acute an e with respect to the section 2. I have i lustrated herein the particular method of cable connection of the several parts shown inFig. 3 merely for convenience of illustration, though it will be obvious that any means of flexible connection between the actuating-motor and the conveyers thereon which will permit of the adjustment of the sections 3 and 4 with respect to their inclination, and their angle with relation to section 2 will be within the scope of my invention, and I have no idea of limiting myself to the specific form of arrangement herein shown.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the section 2 may be considered the main conveyer, and the sections 3 and 4 auxiliary conveyers, and the framework of each of said connections 3 and 4* may be considered auxiliary to the main framework constituting section 2.

In connection with the cable conveyer illustrated I have shown at Fig. 5 a method of connecting meeting ends of said conveyercable comprising a bar 35, secured to one cablesection 14 and having radially-pro-.

- jecting studs 36, a similar bar 35 being carried by the opposite cable-section 14 and provided with plat-es 36 formed with key hole-slots designed to receive studs 36 for detachably connecting said cable-sections.

Cables have been heretofore referred as comprising the conveyers; but it will be apparent that said cables may be connected by means of the usual transversely-extending connecting-slats. 39, and in some instances a canvas covering may be spread over the whole for the purpose of affording a more secure support for small packages and articles which are to be carried by the conveyer. Hence I do not wish to be limited to any specific form of conveyer.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a further modification of my invention, comprising, essentially, a truck-conveyer, in which frame-sections extending in approximately parallel planes are shown, said sections being rovided with chutes 40, upon which are trac -rails 41, terminating at the upper end of the incline.

, above both supported beneath the side rails 2 of the conveyer-frames are angles 42, which an les are disposed vertically belowthe outer ca les 14, and said angles are ada ted to serve as a substantial support for sai outer cables and also for anything which may be carried thereby. The object of this angle is to provide a suitable supporting means for loaded trucks which it is desired to transport by means of the conveyers illustrated in Fig. 6, said trucks being illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and having the grooved wheels 43 and grooved legs 44, whereby the trucks may be run up the incline on the rails 41, thence to the cables 14, and when the slats 39 are rojected into contact with the legs 44 of t e trucks said trucks are thereby carried along the conveyer to a suitable place of deposit at the opposite end. To utilize the same cables or conveyers for loaded and unloaded trucks, I provide substantially parallel frames 2*, between which is arranged the vertical guideroller 45, turning on the shaft 46, around which roller 45 the cable conveyer is projected and upon which it turns, so that instead of running in one direction above a single frame and returning below that frame it is carried rames, but in opposite directions. A similar roller may be positioned near the opposite end for the other end of the conveyer. Angles 47 extend from one frame 2 to the other frame and serve to hold the same. apart under the strain of the cables passing around said pulley 45. In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the conveyer-frame 2 is provided at each end with supporting-brackets 50, upon which the ends may rest when desired. The lower end of the conveyer-frame 2 has its bracket 50 resting on the blocks 51, and extending longitudinally away from said lower end are log-supporting skids 52, which extend to the plane of the upper ed e ofsaid lower end, so that logs may be rolled upon said skids to bring them into position for engagement with the hook 53, carried by the conveyer-cables 14 Said cables ass over the usual sup-- porting-pulleys. he bracket 5 and supporting-wheels 6 are used in this type of con veyer for the purpose of convenience in transporting the structure from place to place. In this structure, however, a stand 54 is provided, which stand carries the driving-motor- Driven by the motor is a shaft 55, which, through chain 56, drives the shaft 57, which in turn drives shaft 58, on which are grooved pulleys 15 through chains 59, and a chain drives the end shaft 61 through the usual wheels. On shaft 61 are grooved pulleys 13*, over which the conveyer-cables 14 pass, thence over pulleys 15 and around end pulleys 13 said cables being connected by transversely-extending slats 62. Traveling with cables 14 are chains 63, which run over and engage sprocket-wheels on shafts 61 and 61 and, if

desired, upon shaft 58. Thus the drivingmotor wil cause said chains to be driven. When logs are rolled onto the skids 52, the hooks 53, carried by chains 63, will en age the logs and carry them up the incline along the horizontal position 26, and thence to a suitable place of' deposit, as the car X. (Shown in the drawing Fig. 9.) The carrying-wheels 6 will support the structure when the horses are removed, and upon disconnecting the chain 56' the conveyer may be trans-ported from place to place upon wheels 6. The supporting-horses are used with this type of conveyer and may be shifted to cause greater or less elevation of the ends, and when desired horses of greater height may be employed for causing one of the ends to extend up to the highest deck of a vessel. The sections of which the conveyer is formed facilitate the employment of horses of different heights; so that the take-on or discharge end may be elevated to any degree desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a main conveyer, of an auxiliary conveyer adjustable in a plurality of directions, a rotatably-mounted shaft, a plurality of pulleys carried thereby, a belt engaging one of said pulleys and actuated by said main conveyer, and a belt engaging the other of said pulleys for receiving movement from the main conveyer and en aging the auxiliary conveyer for actuating t e same.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of portable cable-frames, supporting-rollers therein, an actuating-motor su ported by one of said frames, supporting-wiieels on said frame, and means-actuated by said motor for synchronizing the conveyin means carried by said frames.

8. 11 an apparatus of the character described, a supporting-frame, a plurality of frames at an angle thereto, continuous cable conveyers in each of said frames, a motor carried by one of said frames, and means connecting therewith for synchronizing the travel of said cable conveyers.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of supporting-frames angularly disposed, a conveyer movable in each of said frames, a motor carried by one of said frames, and means connected therewith for synchronizing the travel of a plurality of said conveyers.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination witha main conveyer, of an auxiliary conveyer movable with respect to the main conveyer, a motor for driving said main conveyer, a cable actuated by said m0- tor, a shaft driven by said cable, a second cable driven by said shaft, 9. second shaft driven by the second-mentioned cable, and a third cable driven by the second-mentioned 1 adapted to detachably engage said lugs for shaft and engaging said auxiliary conveyer locking the ends of said belt together. u

for actuating the same. I In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 6. In a conveyer, the combination with a l signature in presence of two witnesses. 5 framework, of a conveyer-belt, a bar carried JOSIAH B. SCOVELL.

by each end of said belt, lugs projecting from Witnesses:

one of said bars, and plates carried by the I C. E. Bos'rwrox,

other of said bars formed with keyhole-slots V G. L. GORTON. 

